Wellness Partners: UW & American Cancer Society

The University of Washington and the American Cancer Society (ACS) are partnering together on wellness education and information to help us all create a healthier work environment.

ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Together with millions of supporters, the ACS and the UW are saving lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by researching and finding cures, and by fighting back.

From the Healthy Living e-newsletter to 'tools for change' to Relay for Life, the UW and ACS make great partners!

Staying Healthy

The UW and ACS help you take steps to prevent cancer or detect it at its earliest, most treatable stage by:

Developing guidelines for recommended cancer screenings and nutrition and physical activity, so people know what tests they need to find cancer early and how to prevent the disease.
Creating a personalized health action plan to discuss with their doctor that shows which cancer screening tests are right for them, as well as healthy lifestyle choices to consider.
Helping people to quit smoking by providing them with the resources they need to make a quit attempt and stay tobacco-free through the Quit For Life® program, operated and managed by Free & Clear.
And did you know that smoking is prohibited in all UW facilities and vehicles and any outside area other than limited designated smoking sites. Read UW policy .

Check out these links that support staying healthy:

Finding Support and Treatment

ACS is available around the clock to guide you through a cancer experience knowing that every cancer patient is a fighter.

Whether you have questions about cancer, need practical solutions to daily problems like finding a ride to treatment, or just want support from someone who has been through it all before, ACS has got answers around the clock.
The ACS phone lines, at 1-800-227-2345, are always open to help connect people with the answers they need. ACS offers access to the latest information and news on cancer and helps you find programs and services in your area.
Through the American Cancer Society Clinical Trials Matching Service, ACS connects patients with more than 64,000 different treatment options.
ACS offers an online support community for cancer survivors and caregivers.
Through the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® Network, ACS provides cancer patients and their families with a free place to stay when they have to travel far from home for treatment.
With 140 sites at hospitals and treatment centers across the country, the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program provides one-on-one guidance to people facing cancer through every step of their journey.

Did you know that the UW is part of a cancer consortium?

The Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington Cancer Consortium is a research collaboration comprising Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, and its strong collaborators, the University of Washington, Seattle Children's, and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Finding Cures through Research

ACS invests in research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determines how best to prevent it, and discovers new ways to cure it.

ACS's research and that of its funded researchers helped to confirm the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, established the link between obesity and multiple cancers, developed drugs to treat leukemia and advanced breast cancer, and showed that mammography is the most effective way to detect breast cancer.
ACS funds beginning researchers with cutting-edge ideas early in their careers—many of whom have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, the highest accolade in scientific achievement.
ACS's work has contributed to a 14 percent decrease in the cancer death rate between 1991 and 2005. During that time, about 650,000 cancer deaths were avoided and more birthdays were celebrated.

Fighting Back

ACS helps pass laws that defeat cancer and rallies communities to join the fight.

At its core, the American Cancer Society is a grassroots force of three million passionate volunteers who tirelessly seek to save lives from cancer. ACS works with lawmakers everywhere to make this world a healthier place to live and it rallies communities around the globe to join the fight.
Whether it’s passing smoke-free laws, increasing funding for cancer research, improving access to quality health care or inspiring communities to take up the fight, ACS fights cancer on all fronts.
You can get involved in one of the many ACS events held throughout the year including:
- UW Relay For Life®, a fun-filled overnight event at Husky Stadium designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society.
- DetermiNation program collaborates with more than 85 marathons, triathlons, cycling, and other endurance events around the country, allowing athletes to dedicate their training and participation to the fight against cancer.
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® event unites 600,000 walkers and more than 140 communities to help save lives from breast cancer and provide hope to people facing the disease.

Source: American Cancer Society

Healthy Living is a free monthly e-newsletter produced by the American Cancer Society that teaches the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. Read current and past issues.

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